Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-12-15
KANSAS RAILROADS.

Railroad Commissioners submitted their
annualreport to the Governor yesterday.
The following is a summary OF the report:
To Hon. John A. Martin:
SIR: We have the honor to submit toyou in
pursuance OF the requirements OF the law this,
the fifth annual report OF the Board of Railroad
Commissioners OF this State.
This report embraces the statements and re-
ports OF the different companies engaged in Ii
operation of lines of railroads in this State made
TO this ONCE in pursuance 10 statutory require
nents and which exhibit in detail the doings in
transportation and the financial result of rail-
rord operations in Kansas for the year ended
June 30. 1887, and also statistical tables COM
piled from the reports.
The board has from time to time, oppor-
tunity has been afforded. inspected the rail-
roads of the State with view TO ascertain
their condition and the manner IN which they
are operated. With few minor exceptions,
they have been kept in good order and condi-
ton. Most of the new roads built in the State
the past two years have been built in very
substantial manner and with view to their
future economical operation.
Up to November J. 1885, there had been built
during the preceding part of the year $50 miles
of new railroads within the State. During the
same period the present year there were $50
miles built. 1t may be interesting to trace the
progress of railroad building in Kansas the past
four years.
The total mileage reported to this office for
the year ended June 30, 1882 including narrow
1855 miles including side tracks, 4,349
For the year ended June 30, 1884, the mileage
of main line in Kansas reported was 4, 038 miles.
Increase OF main tracks for The year, 153 miles.
Total mileage, including side tracks counted as
single track ,594 miles. Increase for the year.
225 miles. 1t should be noted that fractions of
a mile are excluded IN these statements
The total mileage reported for the year ended
June 10, 1885. main line, ,163 miles. Increase
for the year, 49, miles. Total mileage, includ-
I'M a. mi
Total mileage reported for the year ended
June co. 1886, 4,703 miles. Increase for the year,
53I miles. Total mileage including side tracks,
5,357 miles. Increase. 607 miles.
Total mileage main line reported for the year
ended June 81, 6,54s.93 miles. Increase for the
year, ], S45. 10 miles Length of track, including
sidings computed single track, 7,356.04 miles,
Increase for the year, 1881 miles.
II must be borne in mind that the mileage Of
ficialy reported to this office for the year ended
June 81 last did not embrace all the new road
actually built up to that date, but only so much
as had been finished and turned over to the
operating department OF the different compa-
MES by whom, or for whom the same was built.
In railroad building the past two years, Kansas
has led every other State and Territory. As
Stunning that by the close of the present calen-
dar year the total completed mileage of Kan
sas railroads will equal 5000 miles. it will be
seen that nearly 1900 miles of this have been
built within two years
Besides the vast extensions of railroads in
every direction within the State, work OF di-
rect importance and interest to the people OF
Kansas, carried on by parent home corpora
lions, is rapidly progressing beyond our
boundaries; railway systems having their CEN
ter. a. ii were, in Kansas. are extending their
arms into adjacent and even remote States and
Territories-into the South to the Gulf, into
the vast regions o. the Southwest, into Colora
do and beyond. The accomplishment of these
great enterprises not but result in i'm
mense benefit to the people OF Kansas.
&k.e&. 1s~.z- a. -
the railroad mileage OF Kansas within the past
two years the western part of the State is as
yet but meagerly supplied. If that part OF the
State continues TO develop and to grow in the
same ratio the next few years it has in the
past three-and that it will there can hardly be
a doubt-a very considerable addition to the
railroad mileage will be needed.
The past year, notwiths landing the falling OF
in agricultural production, has witnessed very
considerable growth in railroad business and
earnings This is due liz a measure TO the
immense amount of railroad material for new
construction that has been carried over the
roads OF the State. upon all OF which the freight
is collected and charged up TO the construction
account. The building OF waterworks and
street car lines. which has proceeded in every
considerable town OF Kansas, has also consider
ably swollen the volume of freight traffic.
These, of course, can not be depended on as
permanent sources of business and railroad rev.
enue.
The total gross earnings of all railroads re-
porting to his office except the Salina, Lin
coin & Western. which we have been unable to
obtain, and which would but slightly vary the
19ureS) are:
For the year ended June 80 1887 81 ,694 474 81
For the year 1886 .............. e., 76S, 85S 80
Increase s s,s25, 615c7
The net earnings Of all roads compared show
For 1887. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. $3l ,256, 500 63
For 1886 ~, 32i, 444S4
Net loss of roads not earning expenses:
For 1886 .--....--....... 1O4 ?-S.0l
The total tonnage for the past two years ended
June 80 1857 compared:
Number of tons OF freight carried
over all railroads, 1887. 21 ,293. s32. 6
OF iooo 1o'f"o'''"-o
Increase 1877 over 1886 .......... 49,. 251 g
OF this increase in tonnage the pat year COM
pared with the preceding year. 4,3oO,6O4 tons
are due to increased demand and consumption
of manufactures lumber, the various classes OF
building material coal and merchandise and
other articles; and but 55S,6oS tons due to in
crease of tonnage of grain, agricultural pro-
ducts, flour and meal and animals.
In respect to the classes OF freight last
named, the tonnage carr led in 1887 fell below
that of 1sS5, by LOB tons. The production,
carried by the railroads for the year ended June
30, 1885, represented fair average productive
year. With the great increase OF population
since, and favorable season, these classes Of
freight should have vastly increased.
The total amount OF capital stock reported,
all companies is:
For the year ended June 50, 1881 .$S2o. 4S 961
For the year ended June 80, 1SS6..... 2S4. S92
Increase in capital stock ..........s Il, 43S O75
Total amount of dividends paid is:
For the year ended June 3d. 1881. 81, S34 10 AS
Amount preceding year........... q OF 093. 4S
Increase Observation-Disclosures s17,O4O.91
Average rate of dividend total
stock ............ .............2.41 per cent
Rate for 1886 ...........-....2.47 per cent